SIBU: Three hundred and eighteen landowners affected by the construction of three projects, namely Pasai-Siong Road, Baleh-Mapai 500kv Overhead Transmission Line, Sibu/Kapit, and new sibu prison received compensations amounting to RM10.393 million.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the compensation dispelled rumours of the government seizing the people’s land.
“To develop infrastructure, the government needs land. If many projects are carried out, then we need a lot of land to implement these projects.
“Believe me, all this is for our mutual benefit. All this is the basis for us to build a brighter future, not only for ourselves, but we also want to build a bright future for the new generation,” he said.
Awang Tengah, who is also the Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development and the Minister of International Trade, Industry and Investment, said this in his speech at the handover of land compensation cheques for the three projects at the Sibu Islamic Complex, today (Sept 20).
He said the people can claim compensation from the state government as long as they have proof of land ownership in the area acquired by the government for development purposes.
Meanwhile, Land and Survey Department superintendent Mohamad Muazziz Othman said the acquisition of land for the Jalan Pasai-Siong Hilir project, Sibu along 17.8km involved a land area of 47.42ha.
“As for the second project, the Baleh-Mapai 500kV Overhead Transmission Line project (realignment) is a continuation of the Baleh-Mapai Transmission Line project.
“This realignment involves 51 lots with an area of 24.5ha. Meanwhile, the construction of the new prison in Sibu involves 18 lots of land of 24.52ha.
“The purpose of this new prison is to move the existing Sibu prison to a more spacious and suitable location to accommodate current needs,” he said.
Mohamad Muazziz pointed out that the cheque presentation ceremony is a manifestation of the government’s development programmes that require land where privately owned land or NCR land needs to be acquired and subsequently compensated by the government.
“The compensation that will be paid to the landowners and also the valid NCR land claimants and this compensation payment is according to the current market value. So, there is no question of the government confiscating the land or not paying appropriate compensation,” he said.
